SPORTS minister Tracey Crouch has praised Manchester United for "finally dragging themselves into the 21st century" after they announced plans to form a women's professional team.
Ms Crouch congratulated the club — which is the only Premier League men's side not to have a senior women's team — during Culture questions in the Commons.
Following a question from Tory Philip Hollobone (Kettering) who asked whether there is "enough women's sport broadcast on terrestrial TV", Ms Crouch said: "There can never be enough women's sport broadcast on TV, and I would always encourage more women's sport to be on TV.
"And may I just actually take this opportunity to congratulate Manchester United Football Club, who have finally dragged themselves into the 21st century and announced that they will be having a women's football team."
Commons Speaker John Bercow, an avid Arsenal fan, chimed in, saying: "They are light years behind Arsenal."
Manchester United announced on Wednesday that they have submitted an application to the Football Association to join the second tier of the Women's Super League.
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